SDCL § 21-47-5: Foreclosure not permitted after money judgment unless execution returned unsatisfied.

If it appear that any judgment has been obtained in an action at law for the moneys demanded by such complaint, or any part thereof, no proceedings shall be had in such case unless an execution against the property of the defendant in such judgment has been issued, and the sheriff or other officer shall have made return that the execution is unsatisfied in whole or in part, and that the defendant has no property whereon to satisfy such execution.